All events (including meals) mentioned on the itinerary are included in the price ($120). Additionally, lodging is provided with a private room and communal bathroom.

The following institutions have expressed interest in financially supporting their students' attendance to the retreat:

• University of Minnesota (Department of Chemistry)

• Washington University in St. Louis (Department of Chemistry)

• ACS Southern Wisconsin Local Section

​If you are affiliated with these institutions, please reach out to the appropriate contacts to request financial assistance for the retreat.

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How Do I Ask for Permission/Funding to go to the MWRDC?

It is possible your PI or faculty mentor may be able to provide funding to support your attendance of the MWRDC. We have provided language below to help you explain the retreat in a succinct way, and how you might go about asking for this assistance.

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First, you should describe what the MWRDC is. Here's a description:
 

The Midwest Retreat for Diversity in Chemistry was created by Prof. Robbyn Anand at Iowa State University. The goal of the retreat is "the retention of underrepresented groups in chemistry careers and their advancement into leadership roles. We aim to teach graduate and postdoctoral chemists a positive and proactive approach to their careers. Specifically, the retreat will connect attendees to a close-knit network of colleagues and mentors, teach strategies for career success, and provide a toolkit for success in their chemistry career paths." There will be workshops on imposter syndrome, scientific communication, and pathways to career success, as well as breakout sessions, a research poster session, and three career panels. The weekend-long retreat will be on Friday, June 24th to Sunday, June 26th, 2022 at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA. 

 

Then, you should tell your PI why you want to go. To strengthen your reasoning, you could include some skills that you are hoping to gain at the retreat (e.g., networking, interviews, job application tips, communication, etc.) Lastly, if your PI typically supports conference travel, you can ask them to financially support your registration fee. You could say something like:

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As you can see, I am really excited to attend MWRDC this year. Would you be willing to financially support my attendance? The all-inclusive registration fee (including housing, meals, and workshop fees) is $120.